Contract Java Developer C2C Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.

The Lead Engineer Automation Quality will serve as a subject matter expert responsible for leading the design and development of robust, scalable, and highly complex test automation frameworks. This role will lead automation initiatives for complex projects, establish automation best practices and standards, mentor quality automation engineers, and collaborate with stakeholders and DevOps teams to integrate automated testing into CI/CD processes.

What you will do:

• Lead and oversee the design, development, and implementation of automated test strategies and frameworks.
• Lead a team of test and quality automation engineers, providing direction on automation and build automation strategies.
• Define and enforce best practices for test automation and quality assurance.
• Lead assessments of automation tools.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define test automation goals and objectives.
• Partner with DevOps teams to integrate automated tests into CI/CD processes.
• Monitor and report on test automation metrics and KPIs.
• Lead continuous improvement of test automation processes, tools, and standards.
• Lead innovation efforts, including AI.
• Design and document training materials and provide training on automation tools and frameworks.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for quality automation engineers and provide guidance, direction, and prioritization of work for the team.
• Perform manual testing when needed.

What you will bring:

• 7 to 10 years of testing experience, including 4 to 5 years of automation testing experience or equivalent automation training.
• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring test automation teams.
• Strong experience with core Java programming concepts and expert-level proficiency in Java.
• Extensive experience with test automation tools and frameworks, including Selenium, Karate, JUnit, and TestNG.
• Excellent API automation experience using Karate.
• Excellent UI automation experience using Selenium, JUnit, and TestNG.
• Strong understanding of CI/CD processes and tools.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

What will set you apart:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Experience with performance testing tools such as JMeter and LoadRunner.
• Experience in an AWS cloud environment.
• Knowledge of containerization technologies, including Docker and Kubernetes.

This job operates in a professional office environment.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. You will be evaluated in part based on your performance of the responsibilities and/or tasks listed in this job description. You may be required to perform other duties that are not included on this job description. The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason, as per terms and conditions of your employment contract.

Red flags and risks:

• Title clarity: "Lead Engineer Automation Quality" is awkward and may not align with common market-facing titles. Consider whether "Lead Quality Automation Engineer," "Lead Test Automation Engineer," or a similar title more accurately reflects the intended role. Confirm internally before changing the official title.
• Leadership scope is unclear: The JD says the role will "lead a team" and references managing and mentoring teams, but later says the individual "may provide" guidance and prioritization. It is unclear whether this is a people manager, technical lead, or both. Clarifying direct-report and people-management responsibilities could improve candidate alignment.
• Experience requirement is ambiguous: "7 to 10 years testing experience with 4 to 5 years experience in automation testing or equivalent automation training" could imply that training can substitute for four to five years of automation experience. Confirm whether that is the intended qualification.
• Java requirements are repetitive: The source lists both "strong experience" with Java core concepts and "expert-level proficiency" in Java. These have been retained because they may represent distinct expectations, but the intended proficiency level should be clarified.
• JUnit and TestNG classification: The source describes Selenium, Karate, JUnit, and TestNG collectively as automation tools/frameworks and specifically associates JUnit and TestNG with UI automation. This may be technically imprecise because JUnit and TestNG are primarily testing frameworks rather than UI automation tools. Technical leadership should validate the terminology.
• AI scope is vague: "Lead innovation efforts such as AI" does not explain what AI-related responsibilities, technologies, or outcomes are expected. More specific scope could improve candidate understanding.
• Work authorization language: The required work authorization and sponsorship statement may have immigration and compliance implications. HR, Legal, or Immigration counsel should confirm that the language and its application are appropriate for the role and hiring practices.